Vending apparatus



' Sept. 2, 1941. B. w. FRY

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Jan 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. w. FRY

VENDING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 3, 1939 Sept. 2, 1941.

? Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4.

Patented Sept. 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT rric 7 Claims.

This invention relates to vending machines, and with regard to certainmore specific features, to coin-actuated vending machines.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa vending machine of the class described which is particularly adaptedfor the dispensing of units of relatively large size and individually ofrelatively substantial rigidity, such as boxes of soap chips or flakes,boxes of cereals, and the like; the provision of a vending machine ofthe class described embodying improved escapement means for bringingsuccessive units into position to be dispensed, and to dispense saidunits quickly and positively, one at a time, without any possibility ofdelivering more than one unit for one coin deposit; the provision of avending machine of the class described embodying individualunit-supporting trays which, after the units thereon are dispensed,collect unobtrusively at a position and in a manner so as not to occupymore than a minimum of space, and so as not to interfere with or impedethe dispensing of further units; the provision, in

a vending machine of the class described, of

means preventing the receipt by the machine of a coin in the event thatall of the units in the machine have been dispensed; and the provisionof a vending machine of the class described which is simple andeconomical in construction and operation. Other objects will be in partobvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of variouspossible embodiments of the invention,

embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the machine of Fig. 1, with a frontpanel removed;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section taken substantially along line 33 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross section taken substantially alongline 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to a part of Fig. 4, illustratingcertain alternative operating positions; and,

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross section taken substantially along line 1-of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters indicate correspending parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, it will be seenthat the vending machine embodying the present invention is mountedwithin a relatively tall rectangular sheet metal 4.0 Fig. 1 is a frontelevation of a vending machine general box-like structure.

casing indicated generally by numeral I. The casing I includes aremovable front panel 3, which is secured or locked to the casing as awhole by suitable locking mechanism 5 near its top edge. At its bottom,the front panel 3 has a rectangular opening I, through which moves apivoted delivery device 9, hereinafter to be more specificallydescribed. Along its right-hand edge, the frontpanel- 3 carries acoin-receiving escutcheon plate I I a bad coin or slug delivery chuteI3, and a suitable slot through which passes the manipulative end of ahandle or operating lever I5.

Numeral I'I indicates an inner container of The container I'I comprisesrectangular sheet metal side walls I9, which are outwardly flanged, asindicated at numerals 2|, at their front edges, and inwardly flanged, asindicated at numeral 23, at their rear edges. To properly space apartthe side walls I9, a sheet metal strip is aflixed across the upper frontedge of the box-like structure IT, to the two front flanges 2|; anothersheet metal strip 21 likewise extends across the front at about thelevel of the slug chute I3, and is likewise secured to the-two frontflanges 2 I. A portion of the strip 21, indicated by numeral 29, is bentinwardly into the box I! so that it slopes downwardly, as indicated inFigure 3, for purposes hereinafter to be described. Numeral 3| indicatesa rectangular plate which is provided with an in-turned upperreinforcing edge 33, and perpendicular extensions or cars at its nds,the ears 35 respectively being aifixed to the upper rear corners of theside plates I9, thereby further to aid in spacing said plates apart. Theplate 3| is parallel to the back flanges 23, but is spaced a sufilcientdistance therefrom that, as the box-like structure I! is inserted intothe outer casing I, it is suitably positioned with the front face of thebox-like structure I! flush with the front face of the casing I. Afourth spacing member forthe side walls I9 comprises a channel piece 3'!that is secured, inside the box-like structure I l, to the back flanges23, at the bottoms of said back flanges.

The box-like structure I l is correctly positioned laterally in theouter casing I by means of angle pieces 39 and AI, which are aflixed tothe respective side walls of the casing I near the top thereof, and byangular spacing pieces 43 and 45 which are secured to the side walls I9at the bottoms thereof. The left-hand space 41 thus provided, consideredfrom the viewpoint represented by Fig. 2, is considerably narrower thanthe corresponding right-hand space 49. Into the latter space 49 fits amajor portion of the operatcertain tray pieces indicated by numerals 53.Each tray 53 (see also Fig. 7) comprises a flat rectangular metal plateprovided, along its lateral edges near the rear corners thereof, withnotches 55 adapted to receive and slide upon the track and with acentrally located rectangular hole 51 parallel to and near the rear edgeof said plate 53, and preferably substantially in line- The length fromfront to with the notches 55. back of each of the plates or trays 53 issufficient that, with a tray in horizontal position and its notches 55on the tracks 5|, the front edge of said tray rests lightly upon thesloping portion 29 of cross piece 21 (see Fig. 4).

Numeral 59 indicates a sheet metal hook or like member mounted on therear wall of exterior casing I, so that its front or hooking end 6|projects substantially in the plane of flanges 23. At the level of theend 6| of the hook 59, the two flanges 23 are sharply reduced in width,as indicated at numerals 63, so that the separation between theirrespective edges increases (see Fig. 2). These edges, below these points63, are spaced apart a sufiicient distance so that the notches 55 oftrays 53 no longer will engage said edges, but, on the contrary, the end6| of hook 59 will enter the openings 51 in the trays so that they pivotand hook upon and stack with other trays so discharged in verticalpositions on the hook 593, all as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The tracksheretofore indicated by numeral 5| may be considered to terminate,downwardly, at the points 63 where this increased separation between theedges of flanges 23 is brought about.

Somewhat below the level of the points 63, the facing inner surfaces ofthe side walls I9 are provided with angle-pieces 65, the projectingsurfaces of which slope downwardly toward the front of the machine.Preferably the projecting surfaces are extended rearwardly in ahorizontal plane for a short distance, to abut the rear flanges 23, asindicated by numeral 61 in Fig. 3. The angle pieces 65 and their saidextensions 61 constitute guiding means for delivering packages to bedispensed into the pivoted dispensing device 9. Further to assist insuch guiding, and to assure the proper lateral positioning of saidpackages, two tabs or ears B9 are struck inwardly from the side wallsI9, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

The pivoted delivery device 9 comprises a boxlike sheet metal memberwith an open top II. It is pivoted to the side walls I9 by screws orlike members l3 mounted near its lower front corners. The back wall ofthe box has an extension, indicated by numeral 15, which is bent sharplydownwardly and rearwardly, and has a further bent end I1 which, when thebox 9 is tilted forwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3,abuts the under side of the projecting surface of angle pieces 65, tolimit the forward rotating movement of said box 9. Preferably the frontwall of the box 9 is provided with a thumb notch I9, to facilitatemanipulation of the box 9.

Numeral 8| indicates a rectangular plate somewhat similar to the plate3| which is likewise provided with an in-turned upper reinforcing edge83 and perpendicular extensions or ears 85 at its ends, the ears 85respectively being affixed to the outer surfaces of the back edge of theside walls I9 at a location just above the points 63. The plate 8| isparallel to, but spaced from, the rear flanges 23. It serves areinforcing and spacing function similar to that of the plate l 3|, butin addition constitutes mounting means for an escapement device now tobe described.

Numeral 81 (see also Fig. 4) indicates a channel-shapecl piece, theupper flang 89 of which is at an obtuse angle to the rear web thereof,and the lower flange 9i whereof is at right angles to said rear web. Thechannel piece 81 is just sufficiently long to fit between the ears 85.At its ends, the channel piece 81 carries perpendicular ears orextensions 93, which are pivoted, as by screws 95, near the lower edgesof the ears 85. At its right-hand end, an angle bracket 91 is secured tothe under face of the lower flange 9| of the channel piece 87, and tothe depending face of this bracket 91 is pivoted, as by a screw 99, aconnecting bar It.

Numeral I93 indicates a relatively rigid sheet metal strip that extendsacross between the ears 85. At its ends, angle brackets I05 are mountedon the strip I93, and the angle brackets I05 are pivoted, as by screwsI01, to the ears 85, so that the strip E03 as a whole may pivot on thescrews Hi1. A suitable coil spring is provided on one or each of thescrews I91 to urge the strip I03 to rotate in a clockwise manner, whenconsidered from the viewpoint represented by Fig. 4. The lower or frontedge of the strip I03 is therefore normally resiliently engaged againstthe back surfaces of back flanges 23.

Numeral I99 (Fig. 4) indicates a generally rectangular plate that ismounted on the outside surface of the right-hand side wall I9, in thespace 49, as by bolts and nuts I. The plate I99, however, is spaced fromthe side wall I9, as by suitable spacer strips indicated by numeral I I3. Extending upwardly from the outer surface of plate IE9 is a generallyrectangular projecting area N5, the height of which above the surface ofthe plate I99 is preferably just slightly greater than the thickness ofa coin, such as a dime, for which the machine is designed to operate.The upper edge I I1 of the projecting area H5 constitutes a coin guidingmeans in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Pivoted in the region of its point on the projecting area II5 by meansof a screw H9 is a quadrant-shaped operating lever or plate I2I, fromthe forward edge of which extends the manipulating handle I5hereinbefore referred to. Extending radially outwardly from the rearwardedge of the quadrant plate I 2| is an extension I23, the peripheral edgeof which is provided with ratchet teeth I 25. Numeral I2! indicates apawl, pivoted on a screw I29, and resiliently maintained in position bya tension spring I3I. The dog I21 engages the teeth I on projection I23in both directions of rotation of the quadrant plate I2I, to prevent anyreversal of rotative direction of movement thereof during the periodduring which said pawl I2! is in engagement with the ratchet I23.

The curved upper edge of the quadrant plate I2I comprises a series ofangular sections I33, I and I3! of progressively greater radius. Ashoulder I39 is provided between sections I33 and :35, and a shoulder MIbetween sections I35 and Numeral I43 indicates a circular slot in thequadrant plate I2I, the ends of which cooperate with a screw I mountedin the projecting area H5, to limit the rotative movement of thequadrant lever I2I in both directions. The free end of connecting barIflI is pivotally connected to the quadrant plate I2I by a screw I46.

Numeral I41 indicates a lever that is pivoted as on a screw I49, betweenthe side wall l9 and the rectangular plate I59. At its forward, loweredge the lever Ml has a projection II, which extends through an openingI53 in the plate I639 and rides upon the circular edge of quadrant plateIli. A tension spring I55 urges the lever I 3? at all times to rotatedownwardly, thereby pressing the projection I5I firmly against the edgeof quadrant plate IZI.

Near its upper edge, the plate N39 is provided with a coin-guiding chuteI51, which has a hopper-like upper end, and a lower delivery endpositioned just above the rearward edge of projecting area II5 on plate19.

Numeral I59 indicates a pin, such as a screw, which is mounted on thequadrant plate IZI near the upper edge thereof, at about the centralportion of angular section I51. The head of pin I59 extendssubstantially entirely across the space between the surface of plate I09and the quadrant 9 plate IZI, for reasons hereinafter to be made clear.

A tension spring Hi5 is hooked to the rear edge of the quadrant plateI2I in such manner as to urge it to rotate in clockwise direction, whenconsidered from the viewpoint of Fig. 4, at all times. This means thatthe quadrant plate I'2I will normally maintain the position illustratedin Fig. 4, unless manually actuated to do otherwise.

Numeral E63 indicates generally a coin selecting device, the details ofwhich need not be gone into herein. It sufiices to say that theselecting device I53 takes coins delivered to the opening I I and sortsgood coins from bad coins, delivering the good coins to thehopper-end ofchute I51 and the bad coins, or slugs, to the reject chute I3. Coinselecting devices of various sorts may be used in connection with thevending apparatus of the present invention.

Numeral I55 indicates a shelf or bracket that extends outwardly from theright-hand side wall I9, and receives and supports a coin cup I8! openat its upper end. The coin cup I57 constitutes the repository into whichgood coins are delivered after they have satisfactorily actuated thevending machine, in the manner hereinafter described.

Suitable means are preferably provided in the machine for preventing themachine from accepting coins when the supply of packages to be vended isexhausted. Various means of this type may be provided, but one type ofmeans that has been found satisfactory comprises a pin or lever H69 (seeFigures 2 and 3) pivoted intermediate its length on the right-hand sidewall 85 and operating through a slot I'll) therein. The pin I69 isspring pressed so that its lower end projects into the inside of thebox-like container Il, while its other or upper end projects into thecoin selecting device I53. When at least one package is present in themachine, the pin IE9 is pressed against the side wall I9 by the package,thus removing the upper end of the pin I58 from its operative positionin the coin selector I53. When no package is present in the vendingmachine, the spring presses the pin I69 so that. its lower end extendsinto the boxlike structure I], and its upper end extends across apassage in the coin selecting device I53 in such manner as to cause evengood coins to be rejected thereby, and returned to the operator in therejected coin chute I3. In this manner, when the operator presents acoin to an empty vending machine, the coin is not accepted, but isreturned to him in the same manner as a slug.

Numeral I'II indicates a lever operated by camming engagement with thehandle I5, and which in turn operates a wire I13 controlling ascavenging mechanism in the coin selector I53. Inasmuch as a particularconstruction of a coin selector I63, including said scavenger mechanism,forms no part of the present invention, further details of theconstruction and operation of the lever Ill and connecting wire II3 arenot necessary herein.

The apparatus is loaded in the following manner, assuming that it isinitially empty:

A supply of trays 53, equal in number to the capacity of the machine forpackages to be dispensed, is provided. If the machine has beenpreviously operated, this supply of trays will be found hanging invertical position on the hook 59. If so, they are removed therefrom.

A first tray 53A is now placed in position with its notches 55 on thetracks 5|, its rearward edge resting on the top flange 89 of the channelpiece 81, and its front edge resting on the sloping flange 29 of thecross piece 27. Said tray is thus placed in horizontal position.

A first package PI is now laid on the upper surface of the first tray53A. The precise positioning of the package PI on the tray 53A isimmaterial, this being one of the features of advantage of the presentinvention.

A second tray 53B is now placed in position with its notches 55 engagingthe track 5I, said second tray 533 being supported entirely by restingon the top surface of the package PI. A second package P2 is nowpositioned atop the second tray 53B.

Successive additional trays 53 and packages P are similarlyalternatingly stacked in the boxlike structure I1 until said structureis substantially filled. It will clearly be seen that the packages P allsupport their own weight and the weight of the trays 53.

The box-like structure I! as thus loaded is now positioned in the casingI, and the front panel 3 locked in position thereon. The machine is nowin condition for vending the packages P.

The dispensing action is brought about in the following manner: Apurchaser, approaching the machine, places a coin C in the coinreceiving slot II. If the coin is a good one, it traverses the coinselector I63 and is deposited in the guide chute I51. If the coin is nota good one (i. e, it is a slug), or if the vending machine has beenexhausted of packages, the slug or coin is returned to the operator"through the reject chute However, a good coin C is delivered by thechute I51 and thereby falls into position between the quadrant plate I2Iand the plate I09, resting. on the upper edge of projecting area I I5,and being prevented from rolling off said edge rearwardly by the pin I59and forwardly by the projection 15L The operator now presses the handleI5 downwardly. The pin I59 pushes the coin C forwardly along the upperedge Ill of projecting area I I5, and the sloping front face of the coinC constitutes a cam which engages the projection I5I and causes it toride upwardly along the edge of the coin, thereby lifting the lever I41against the spring I55 (see Fig. 5')

As the handle I5 is pushed downwardly, and counterclockwise rotation ofthe quadrant plate IZI ensues, the channel piece 81 is likewise causedto rotate by the connecting piece IOI.

The channel piece 81, however, rotates in a clockwise, rather than acounterclockwise manner. When rotation of this channel piece 81 hasprogressed to the point that upper flange 89 thereof is removed fromunder the rearward edge of the lowermost tray 53A, the rearward edge ofsaid tray 53A, now being freed of support, commences to move downwardly,as guided by the track 5I and notches 55, pivoting on its front edge onthe sloping flange 29 of cross piece 21. This action is indicated inFig. 5. All of the other trays, and all of the packages, being freelysupported on this first tray 53A, undergo similar movement.

However, while the upper flange 89 of channel piece 81 is brought tosuch a distance that it frees the rearward edge of tray 53A, the lowerflange 9| is simultaneously brought into position such that itintercepts said rearward edge of the tray 53A in its movement (see Fig.6). This happens about as the handle I5 reaches the downward limit ofits movement. At the same time, the coin now has passed from under theprojection I5I and lever I41, and over the front corner of upper edgeII? of the projecting area I I5; the coin C consequently is free to falldownwardly, and does so fall, between the quadrant plate I2I and theplate I09, and ultimately into the coin cup I61.

As shown in Fig. 6, the lowermost tray 53A rests with its front edgestill on the sloping flange 29 of cross piece 21, but with its rearwardedge resting on the lower flange 9| of channel piece 81. The othertrays, and all of the packages, are similarly positioned. It will beseen that the trays and packages are all at a relatively steep angle tothe horizontal.

The operator now releases the handle I5, and, under the influence oftension spring ISI, said handle I5 springs upwardly, and the quadrantplate I2I rotates clockwise to the other limit of its movement. In sodoing, the following things happen:

First, as the channel piece 31 rotates, the lower flange 9| thereof isbrought out from under the rear edge of tray 53A. This leaves the rearedge of said tray free to fall downwardly, which it proceeds to do. Asthe rear edge falls downwardly, it pulls the front edge of the tray offthe sloping flange 29, thus releasing the front edge as well as the rearedge of the tray. For an instant, then, the tray is substantiallyfreefalling, except for the guiding eifect of tracks 5I. However, assoon as the rear edge of the tray 53A comes to the ends of the tracks5|, as determined by points 63, the end 6| of hook 59 enters the hole 51in said tray 53A, substantially to arrest movement of the rear edge ofsaid tray. The tray 53A thereafter pivots on said hook 59, and the frontedge of the tray 53A drops faster than the rear edge. Ultimately, thetray falls back against the back wall of the casing I, hanging invertical position as illustrated.

The package PI follows the movement of the tray 53A until the packagecomes against the projecting parts of angle pieces 65 (see Fig. 3).These angle pieces 65 arrest and guide the movement of the package, and,together with the ears or projections 69, cause said package PI to fall,under the influence of gravity, into the interior of dispensing box 9.The operator then pivots said dispensing box 9 forwardly, to its Fig. 3dotted line position, and removes the purchased package at will.

As the first tray 53A and package PI fall away from the bottom of thestack, in the manner described, the second tray 53B moves downwardlyunder the weight of the packages and trays superimposed thereon. Thefirst thing that happens is that the rearward edge of the second tray53B comes into contact with the spring-pressed strip I03, which acts asa brake to its movement. However, the strip I03 does not permanentlyimpede the movement of said second tray 53B, because it springs asideunder the weight of said tray and its superimposed load, to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 6, to permit the rear edge of said tray 53Bto pass.

By the time the tray 5533 gets past the strip I03, however, the channelpiece 81 has returned in its rotation to the Fig. 4 position, and itaccordingly intercepts the rear edge of said tray 53B, which comes torest thereon. Meanwhile, the front edge of the tray 533 will have moveddownwardly until it comes to rest against the sloping flange 29 of crosspiece 21. The stack of trays thus resumes its original position, theonly difference being that the lowermost tray and package have beenremoved therefrom by the escapement mechanism.

Subsequent dispensing operations take place in precisely the same manneras that described, until the last package in the machine has beendispensed.

It is impossible to cause the escapement mechanism to operate withoutpresenting a good coin through the device, because without a coin in theposition shown in Fig. 4, if an operator attempts to move the handledownwardly, he can do so only for an ineifective, limited movement,since the projection I5I of lever I 47 will come up against shoulder I4Ion the quadrant plate I 2| and prevent further. counterclockwiserotative movement of said quadrant plate. The proper coin present in thedevice constitutes a cam arrangement that permits said projection I5I toride up and pass over the shoulder I II onto the angular section I37 ofthe quadrantlever I2I.

The pawl I2'I cooperating with the ratchet I25 on the quadrant plate I2Ilikewise provides that repeated dispensing cannot take place byoscillating the lever I5 up and down without discharging a single goodcoin placed therein. This is because, once the pawl I21 comes intoengagement with the ratchet I25 on forward movement of said ratchet, itis impossible to move said ratchet rearwardly until its entire lengthhas been traversed, and the pawl I21 freed from engagement with saidratchet. Once the entire length of the ratchet has been traversed, thepawl will reverse its position to permit return movement of the quadrantplate I2I, but by this time a single package has been dispensed and thecoin presented to said package has been discharged into the coin cupI61.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

I claim:

1. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means supporting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed in alternating tray andarticle disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, and means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon.

2. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means sup-porting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed in alternating tray andarticle disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, and means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon, the rear edge of the said tray, infalling from said bottom flange of the channelshaped member, causing thetray to slip rearwardly and disengage its front edge from the said resttherefor.

3. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means supporting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed in alternating tray andarticle disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon, the rear edge of the said tray, infalling from said bottom flange of the channel-shaped member, causingthe tray to slip rearwardly and disengage its front edge from the saidrest therefor, said track means terminating just beneath saidchannel-shaped member, and means beneath said track means receiving andcollecting the trays successively discharged from the saidchannel-shaped member.

4. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays I engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means supporting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed in alternating tray andarticle disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from; the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon, and means in the box-like structurefor receiving and guiding to a dispensing outlet the articles releasedfrom the trays as said trays successively fall from said channel-shapedmemher.

5. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means supporting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed in alternating tray andarticle disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon, and brake means for resilientlybreaking the fall of a next-higher tray into lowermost position, as aformer lowermost tray is delivered from said channel-shaped member.

6. In a dispensing machine, a box-like structure for containing articlesto be dispensed, vertical track means on one face of said structure,article-supporting trays engaging said track means to be guided inmovement thereby, means supporting the lowermost tray, the other traysbeing supported by the articles to be dispensed V in alternating trayand article disposition in a stack resting on said lowermost tray, saidlowermost tray supporting means comprising a relatively stationary restfor the front edge of the tray and a pivoted channel-shaped member forthe rear edge of the tray, means for oscillatably pivoting saidchannel-shaped member whereby said rear edge first rests on the topflange thereof, then falls from the top flange to the bottom flangethereof, and finally is released to fall from the bottom flange todeliver the article carried thereon, and brake means for resilientlybreaking the fall of a next-higher tray into lowermost position, as aformer lowermost tray is delivered from said channel-shaped membercomprising a spring-pressed strip normally extending in the path of therear edge of said next-higher tray but yieldably capable of being pushedaside to be passed by such rear edge.

BENJAMIN W. FRY.

